Michael Mina’s journey from a teenage dishwasher in rural Washington to the founder of a restaurant empire is a story shaped by hard work, curiosity and a determination to learn. Born in Cairo, Egypt, and raised in Ellensburg, Washington, Mina discovered his passion for cooking while working at a small café at the age of 15. What began with washing dishes quickly became an obsession with the kitchen, eventually leading him to culinary school and some of America’s most celebrated restaurants. He would go on to help create the acclaimed San Francisco restaurant ‘Aqua’ before building ‘The Mina Group’ into a collection of chef-driven dining concepts across the United States and beyond. According to Visa, Mina had founded more than 25 restaurants worldwide by 2023. Yet behind all the awards and growing business was a young dishwasher who simply wanted to learn how to cook.
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